The paper entitled “The Medical Preventive Angel” was presented during the first scientific meeting on prevention of narcotics, organized by Taiba University in association with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control.

In his paper, Al-Otaibi pointed out there had been 30,000 cases of narcotic use in the Kingdom last year, clarifying that in the world there are 200 million drug users representing 4 percent of the world population, 12 percent of which are addicts, while only 18 percent of them sign in for treatment.

Al-Otaibi reviewed the difference between building awareness and activating prevention, demanding the establishment of general test centers, of rehabilitation centers instead of homes, and setting a Saudi standard preventive form in accordance with international experiences.

On the other hand, Col. Ahmad Al-Zahrani, deputy general director of Narcotic Combating, reviewed in his paper entitled “The Kingdom's Efforts in Combating Narcotics in the Security Field” the reason that makes the Kingdom a target for drug dealing and smuggling. The long sea and land border of 8,500 km, multiple neighboring countries and the closeness to countries where drugs are produced or serve as transit points are among the main reasons that make the Kingdom the center point of drug smuggling.

Al-Zahrani reviewed the Kingdom's efforts reflected in signing strategic agreements with regional countries, duel agreements to combat narcotics with other countries and participating in international conferences to benefit from the experiences of other countries in this field.

In his paper entitled “The Strategic Plans and the Media Programs in the field of Combating Narcotics,” Abdulelah Al-Shereef, assistant general director of Narcotic Combating for preventive affairs, reviewed the strategic steps the official bodies are taking to protect society from drugs, enhance the religious beliefs and strengthen the national loyalty and social values.